Mayor Eric Adams says he’s not going anywhere after being indicted on federal charges, but that’s not entirely up to him.

Under the City Charter, the governor has the power to remove the mayor. Gov. Kathy Hochul would have to present Adams with charges and give him “an opportunity to be heard in his defense.” In the meantime, she could suspend him for up to 30 days.

Such a move would be unprecedented. Then-Gov. Franklin Delano Roosevelt did hold hearings personally questioning Mayor Jimmy Walker, who was under a cloud of corruption, but Walker ultimately resigned in 1932 and left the country.

A separate provision of the Charter allows for a so-called “inability committee” to vote for removal.

It would consist of the city’s corporation counsel — a position currently vacant — plus the city comptroller, City Council speaker, the longest-serving borough president — currently Donovan Richards of Queens — and a deputy mayor to be selected by the mayor.

If four of them voted in favor, the City Council could then remove Adams with a two-thirds vote.

City Comptroller Brad Lander hopes the mayor will step down before it comes to that.

“If he doesn’t, then of course these other mechanisms, which none of us were familiar with just a couple of days ago, will need to be considered,” Lander said.

Lander is second in the line of succession after Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. 

If Williams were to become mayor, he’d have to declare a special election to fill the job within three days. 

The election would then likely take place a little more than 80 days later. It would be nonpartisan, making for a potentially crowded field, and would be determined by ranked-choice voting.